Possible Arson Suspect Held As Firefighters Knock Down Blaze Inside Valley Glen Apartment
VALLEY GLEN (CBSLA.com) — Firefighters knocked down a blaze Saturday evening inside a second floor unit of a Valley Glen apartment building.
Officials said the fire -- possibly set inside an apartment by a man facing eviction -- was put out in less than 15 minutes.
The blaze at 6130 Coldwater Canyon Avenue was reported just before 6:10 p.m. said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
A man was seen in handcuffs at the scene -- visible from Sky9. Police confirmed to KCAL9 that a possible arson suspect was in custody.
The cause of the fire is being probed by investigators. The fire was contained to one apartment unit but officials said several units would have suffered smoke damage.
KCAL9's Brittney Hopper reported from the scene Saturday evening and spoke to stunned neighbors.
"It's still shocking that his happened," said Lexi Stilianous, who lives in the apartment next to the fire.
People started banging on her door to get out.
"We came outside and the whole side of the house was in flames," she said.
Stilianous says the suspect threw something at her just a day prior to all of this happening.
"He threw glass out the window and it almost hit my head and I looked back and asked what happened and he just started laughing and went back inside."
While firefighters battled the blaze, the suspect was found hiding in an off-duty officer's vehicle. He was later arrested by LAPD.
There is smoke damage throughout the complex.
"We were really afraid that these big trees in front of our place were going to catch fire and everything we own was going to go."
The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Hopper was told the man was possibly under the influence of narcotics.
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